Vertebral fusion implants and methods of use

Abstract

A vertebral implant for use in vertebral fusion surgeries includes a body with an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials such as bone graft are insertable. The body also includes a plurality of apertures that extend from the exterior surface to the interior surface. Further, the vertebral implant includes a cutting feature to decorticate bone that protrudes outward from the exterior surface at each aperture. The cutting feature is shaped so that as a cutting force is applied to move the implant in a cutting direction, the removed bone matter is directed through the apertures and into the interior cavity.

1. An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a body including first and second exterior walls and sidewalls that extend between the first and second exterior walls that form an enclosed interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials are insertable, the body sized and configured to fit within an intervertebral space with the first wall facing towards the first vertebral member and the second wall facing towards the second vertebral member when the implant is inserted into the patient; 
 a plurality of apertures extending through each of the first and second walls and into the interior cavity; 
 the plurality of apertures being spaced apart along a length and a width of each of the first and second walls; and 
 a plurality of cutting features to decorticate the vertebral members with one of the plurality of cutting features protruding outward from the body at each aperture, each of the plurality of cutting features including a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading surface and the trailing surface intersecting at a cutting edge that is at least partly disposed over the aperture; 
 wherein a first cutting feature includes a first leading surface facing a first cutting direction and a second cutting feature includes a second leading surface facing a different second cutting direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The implant of  claim 1  wherein the exterior surface of the body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       3. The implant of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of apertures are spaced away from the sidewalls. 
     
     
       4. The implant of  claim 1  further comprising a second plurality of apertures positioned along the first and second walls, the second plurality of apertures being spaced away from the cutting features. 
     
     
       5. The implant of  claim 1  wherein each of the cutting features includes a leading surface that is curved in a cutting direction to be partially disposed over the corresponding aperture. 
     
     
       6. An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a hollow body with first and second walls that form an enclosed interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials are insertable, the first wall contacting against the first vertebral member and the second wall contacting against the second vertebral member after the implant has been inserted into the patient; 
 a plurality of apertures extending through each of the first and second walls and being spaced apart along a length and a width of each of the first and second walls; 
 a cutting feature disposed protruding outward from the body at each aperture, the cutting feature including a leading surface relative to a cutting direction, the leading surface extending at least partly around the aperture, and the leading surface being concave relative to the aperture; and 
 a plurality of second cutting features that extend outward from the first and second walls, the plurality of second cutting features being spaced away from each of the apertures; 
 the enclosed interior cavity configured to capture and maintain portions of the first and second vertebral members that are cut by the cutting features and enter the enclosed interior cavity through the plurality of apertures. 
 
     
     
       7. The implant of  claim 6  wherein the exterior surface of the body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       8. The implant of  claim 6  wherein a first cutting feature includes a first leading surface facing a first cutting direction and a second cutting feature includes a second leading surface facing a different second cutting direction. 
     
     
       9. The implant of  claim 6  wherein the cutting features at least partially overlap in a direction substantially parallel to an exterior surface and transverse to the cutting direction. 
     
     
       10. The implant of  claim 6  wherein the body includes sidewalls that extend between the first and second walls with the plurality of apertures being spaced away from the sidewalls. 
     
     
       11. The implant of  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of second apertures that extend through each of the first and second walls and are spaced away from each of the cutting features. 
     
     
       12. The implant of  claim 6  wherein the cutting feature extends over only a portion of the aperture. 
     
     
       13. An implant for insertion into a patient between first and second vertebral members, the implant comprising:
 a hollow body with an enclosed interior space, the enclosed interior space formed at least partially by a first exterior wall that faces towards the first vertebral member and a second exterior wall that faces towards the second vertebral member when the implant is inserted into the patient; 
 a plurality of features positioned about a length and a width of the first exterior wall, each of the plurality of features includes an aperture that extends through the first exterior wall and leads into the enclosed interior space and a cutting edge that extends outward from the first exterior wall and is disposed at least partly above the aperture to contact against the first vertebral member when the implant is inserted into the patient; 
 the enclosed interior space configured to capture and maintain portions of the first vertebral member that are removed by the plurality of features and enter through the apertures; 
 a first set of plurality of features is oriented in a first direction on the first exterior wall and a second set of the plurality of features is oriented in an opposite second direction on the first exterior wall. 
 
     
     
       14. The implant of  claim 13  further comprising a second plurality of features positioned about the second exterior wall with each of the second plurality of features including an aperture that extends through the second exterior wall and into the enclosed interior space and a cutting edge that extends outward from the second exterior wall to contact against the second vertebral member when the implant is inserted into the patient. 
     
     
       15. The implant of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of features are spaced away from the sidewalls. 
     
     
       16. The implant of  claim 13  wherein each of the cutting edges include a leading surface that is curved in a cutting direction and extends at least partially above the aperture.